Saudi Aramco and Pasqal jointly unveil the country's first industrial-grade quantum computer, venturing into the quantum technology arena.

Recently, Saudi Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, and Pasqal, a global leader in quantum computing, jointly deployed Saudi Arabia's first industrial-grade quantum computer.

Unlike most quantum systems used for academic or experimental purposes, this system, deployed at Saudi Aramco's Dhahran data center, was developed by Pasqal based on neutral atom technology and is specifically designed to support industrial decision-making and high-value applications.

For industries such as energy, the system can enhance underground environment modeling capabilities, accelerate research into complex materials, and optimize large-scale supply chain planning.

Saudi Aramco plans to use this system to explore cutting-edge quantum technologies that traditional computing hardware cannot handle, including optimized computing, advanced simulation models and algorithms, and predictive modeling, and to test related industrial applications. This is expected to contribute to the application and development of quantum technology in Saudi Arabia's energy, materials, and advanced industries.

By introducing quantum computing into its technology landscape, Saudi Aramco reinforces its strategic goal of integrating next-generation digital tools into its core businesses. Quantum computing is understood to enhance the capabilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning and unlock innovative applications by accelerating data processing, optimizing core components of machine learning, and enabling more complex model simulations.

Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, Executive Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Saudi Aramco, stated that the company views quantum computing as a natural extension of its digital strategy, aiming to further optimize operations, maximize efficiency, and unlock business value through the large-scale deployment of advanced facilities in artificial intelligence and other technology fields.

As the supplier and installer of the system, Pasqal claims this is the most powerful quantum computing facility the company has deployed to date.

Since its founding in 2019, Pasqal has focused on neutral atom quantum computing, committed to providing practical and industrially applicable cutting-edge quantum solutions globally. The company is at the forefront of scalable quantum processor development, and its innovations are continuously expanding the boundaries of quantum technology and its practical applications.

This deployment is reportedly the result of years of collaboration between Saudi Aramco and Pasqal. Wa'ed Ventures, Saudi Aramco's venture capital arm, became an early strategic investor in Pasqal after participating in its funding round in January 2023, and has since continued to support Pasqal in establishing a presence in Saudi Arabia and promoting the localization of its technology.

Both parties also plan to use this installation as an opportunity to enhance Saudi Arabia's technological capabilities. Under the cooperation agreement, Pasqal will provide Saudi engineers and scientists with training programs and joint research opportunities, giving them access to real-world quantum hardware and application research environments. Both parties stated that this will help cultivate a professional talent pool in the field and lay the foundation for the regional quantum industry.